Gov. Doug Ducey to introduce plan to address some school safety issues

PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced Thursday that he would soon introduce an “aggressive plan” to address some of the issues regarding school safety.

The Arizona Republican announced some details of his plan in a series of tweets, one day after a group of students held a sit-in at his office in an effort to speak with Ducey about addressing gun control. He did not mention when that plan would be introduced.

Ducey said he had been “meeting and listening to Arizonans on the issue of school safety,” including students, parents, teachers, mental health experts, law enforcement, lawmakers from both parties, Arizona schools chief Diane Douglas and Attorney General Mark Brnovich.

The governor said the priorities he has heard included increased mental and behavioral health resources at schools, restricted access to weapons for those who pose a danger to themselves or others, cracking down on illegally-possessed weapons, increased school resource officer presence at schools and enhanced background checks.

“We are building an aggressive plan that address all these issues around school safety,” Ducey said.

“Arizona can lead the nation in tackling this – and in a way that is non-partisan. We’ve done this on other issues, and we can do it again.”

Ducey also pointed to recent mass shootings, including a shooting at a Florida high school that resulted in 17 people dead, as reasons why lawmakers should advance stricter gun control legislation.

“In the overwhelming majority of the deadliest mass shootings in the last 20 years, the shooter exhibited obvious signs of being a threat,” he added. “Why not have laws and a process to restrict these individuals from possessing or obtaining guns?”

Ducey ended the series of tweets by calling for a “centralized tip line to report – and actually investigate – concerns of school safety so they don’t fall through the cracks” and more “funding and enhanced training for school resource officers.”

Thank you to all the Arizonans who brought your ideas to the table. You have greatly shaped Arizona's plan by offering meaningful solutions. pic.twitter.com/JdXNgjyBZJ

— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) March 15, 2018

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